We kicked off our Christmas celebration series with Jeff’s Mom in Grandville. It had been a long while since we’d seen one another and it was nice to finally catch up in person. Grandma Barb spoiled the kids with super cozy bath robes, new bath toys and a massive amount of bath bombs - all of which the kids have put to good use.
We spent Christmas Eve morning with the Smith side of our family in Schoolcraft. My Dad made his usual BLT Bloody Mary Bar and my Mom had the best time watching us all open gifts. Our wish for a white Christmas was granted which made for the perfect scene outside the front bay windows. My parents cozy log home is clutch for the holidays mostly because of their beautiful wood burning fireplace but also because of their massive Christmas Tree that reaches two stories high. Thomas was geeked about his remote control car and battery powered nerf guns. Natalie received one of my hand me down American Girl dolls and matching chapter book sets; this year she took home Molly.
Christmas Eve night was one for the memory books. Last year, just two weeks before Christmas we moved into our Ottawa Hills home. Jeff and I both agreed that the following year (this year) that we’d finally spend Christmas Eve at our own home with the kids. In years past (and my entire life) we’d spent the evening at my parents in Schoolcraft. But we thought 2020 was the year to change it up. This meant we’d finally be able to attend Christmas Eve service at our church.
Fast forward to December 2020 and of course our dreams of attending an in person service with our congregation was out of the question and my night before Christmas Eve dreams slowly died. But then, something magical happened… as I was sharing these exact thoughts with a neighbor friend we considered this: what if we held a small service of our own, safely outdoors, with neighbors?
It came together seamlessly. One neighbor volunteered to play a set of traditional Christmas hymns and a second offered up their keyboard for her to play on. Another family purchased and donated candles and then someone offered to set up their fire pit. Then bells for the kids were made and we put up an open invite for the neighborhood to attend via our association email. We gathered, sang, prayed and did a reading. The whole thing lasted just under 30 minutes and it was even better than our original expectations.
One of our 2020 Resolutions was to invest more time into our local community and while the MIchigan ‘stay-at-home-orders’ enforced throughout the year created many lasting memories with our neighbors I could not provide any better example of ‘resolution success’ than what we witnessed on Christmas Eve. It brought me so much joy.
Later that night we put our kids to bed, kissed them goodnight and waited for them to fall asleep before Santa filled their stockings and assembled their gifts. We poured a bottle of wine and turned on some Christmas music while we worked. I put together Natalie’s cardboard coloring house and Jeff built an elaborate train track from the two massive bins I found second hand on Facebook marketplace for Thomas.
On Christmas morning their reactions were priceless and they spent the next few hours playing under the tree in the living room. Our entire morning was slow with our only timeline to be to Jeff’s parents for brunch later that morning. We sipped coffee and baked cinnamon rolls and this year the kids gave one another gifts - a very sweet moment. It was by far one of my most memorable and special moments from 2020.
On Monday, Natalie’s first day back to school after Christmas Break, she brought home her ‘Break Report.’ My heart melted as I realized what she had drawn - see image below for reference. She had drawn Christmas morning. She explained that Jeff and I were dancing while she and Thomas played with their gifts. The words below read: My brother woke me up.
Later on Christmas morning we fancied up and headed to Rockford for brunch and more family celebrations. Stockings are filled with oranges, giant Hershey bars and Life Saver books. The kids all wear matching PJ sets and disappear playing together the minute we all walk in the door. And the adults play board games and mingle around the food in the kitchen. This day is something I look forward to all year.
We spent a very Happy New Year with friends outside in the snow. We climbed the dunes on the Michigan lakeshore, hiked through the woods, went sledding and kayaked. It was peaceful, relaxing and the perfect way to ring in the new year.
This week we are back to our normal routine of work and school and we’re already scheming up plans for Spring Break. But before we start dreaming of palm trees and warmer weather we have some 2021 Resolutions to share:
Master A New Morning Routine - The year 2020 threw lots of wrenches, one of which landed smack dab in the middle of our usual morning routine. With all the changes made in our morning hours last year (Natalie’s new school schedule, Jeff’s new work schedule, the closing of my gym - a big part of my mornings) we certainly have room for improvement in 2021. We begin with the introduction of a Peloton and a programmable coffee maker. We expect these tools to bring about a more efficient start to our mornings this year.
Reconnect With Church - For over 8 years Jeff and I have attended Mars Hill together - Jeff even longer. Like most churches this year our services went virtual after Covid hit and it wasn’t long before we disconnected. We are uncertain what’s in store for our church community moving forward but we do know that our reconnection with church is long overdue.
Volunteer With Grace’s Table - Natalie was just a wee little baby when we last volunteered with Byron Center Young Life and it’s time we get back to it. Last month I went through orientation and training to become a mentor with Grace’s Table, a non profit that circles around young mothers. It’s a year commitment of being paired with a mentee and may or may not involve our entire family during the process. I’m really looking forward to this one.
More Music! Specifically Piano - My Grandma DeKoekkoek (my Mom’s mom) has been telling me for years that she’d like to hand down one of her three pianos to our family. She’s a very skilled pianist and organist and she’s taught many students to play. Unfortunately, the two hour drive from where I grew up to her house in Grand Haven prevented me from having her as a teacher. I never learned. But both our kids have now expressed an interest in music and we think it might be time for them to start piano lessons.
We’re geared up and ready for a fresh new year! Wishing you and yours a super snowy and fun filled January ahead!
